24 private hospitals suspended from CGHS empanelment

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has suspended empanelment and issued show cause notices to five hospitals for disregarding Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) cards.

The empanelment of Fortis Escorts Heart Institute at Faidabad, Delhi Heart and Lung Institute, M.S. Ramaiah Memorial Institutes and Fortis Jaipur has been suspended for six months.

Fortis group of hospitals, Moolchand, National Heart Institute, Narayana Hrudayalaya, KIMS and Yashodha Hospitals are among the 24 private hospitals that have decided to discontinue credit facilities to the eligible categories of CGHS beneficiaries.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry said there have been reports that private hospitals on the panel of CGHS are denying credit facilities to the eligible CGHS beneficiaries for delay in settlement of hospitals bills. Lower package rates and inadmissible deductions have also been reported to be the other reasons for withdrawal of agreed cashless /credit facilities.

Assuring the CGHS beneficiaries that most of the private hospitals are continuing to extend the cashless facilities, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has said it would ensure that the CGHS empanelled private hospitals continue to extend cashless /credit facilities to the eligible CGHS.

The Ministry has taken special steps for clearance of pending hospital bills on a priority basis and the pendency of bills is almost cleared, it said while adding that the CGHS has invited bids for revision of package rates through a transparent tender process. Steps are under way to conclude the process early.